Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1901.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 28 August 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1901.

Owing to the heavy sea on the Westport bar last night the s.s. Kennedy could not leave that port. The schooner Clyde arrived off the bar this morning from Auckland with a cargo of pipes for the Borough Council.

We understand that Mr Barnhill, of Maori Creek, has disposed of his hotel to Mr] William Claughe3ey, the price being J9IOOO.

A large quantity of dredging machinery is expected to arrive on Friday for the Westland, Aldinga, Victory, Moonlight, and Great Woodstock Gold Dredging Companies. The Government steamer Tutanekai, which arrived in port last evening, is now loading sleepers, and is expooted to leave to-morrow.

By announcement in another column it will be seen that the Druids social, which was to have been ncld this evening, is postponed till further notice. We remind members of tho Greymouth Club that a meeting will be held this evening, at the Club room, for the purpose of adopting rules and appointing an auditor.

The old stables in Mackay street at the back of Tymons and Co, which were used in the olden days by the Tramway Company are being pulled down, for the purpose of erecting .two commodious shops thereon.

The Greymouth Ethiopian entertainers journey to Hokitika to-morrow afternoon by special train to repeat their concert in aid of the Hokitika Aquatic and Cycling Club. Our Hokitika friends havo a treat in store for them.

The friends of Mr Thomas Jones, who was laid up in Wellington with influenza, will be pleased to hear that ho is now recovered. He loft Wellington by the s.s. Monowai for Sydney on Saturday where he will pick up one of tho Orient line of steamers for the Old Country. We wish him a safe journey Homo and a speedy return. An alarm of fire was given last evening the Fire Brigade being quickly on the scene, which turned out to be in Hospital street, in a small cottage occupied by Mr S Osborne, and owned by Mrs Bell. Not much damage was done, the Brigade extinguishing the flames before they had a firm hold.

Wo draw Mir readers attention to Mr J. Reynold's in another column, notifying that he Imp opened a chemist shop in tboee premises lately occupied by M) 1 Djson, alongside Mr Biidg«r's shun in 'i'ui nni t=trM,t. A number of jn Greymouth intend enmimmcmg & camera club in a short tints. A few years h club wai in oxlatenee here, but it censed activity. Ah the summer months come round the club will bo a fine meana of studying this fine art and give every opportunity for oxporimonts. The membership will bo open to ladies, who no doubt will take advantage of the tuition to be given. Pleasant afternoons will be spent in touring the district, and securing the many fino pictures that nature Jibs so bountifully provided.

The Maori songsters will arrive at Grcymoutli on Saturday, September 14th, and will appear in the Opera House on Sunday add Monday, September I.oth and 16th. This unique Company of artists are having a wonderfully succosful tour in the North. Great crowds are assembling to hear Capt. Ada Stirling, a young lady soprano of considerable talent and range. Miss Stirling, who is widely known has sung in all the large cities of Australia and New Zealand when tremendous crowds have gathered to hear her sing '■ Star of Mope," and "Master the Tempest is raging." She sings with wonderful expression and effect.

Mr Guinness had mado all arrangements to go down with the Rt. Hon. Seddon in the Hinemoa to attend the funeral of the late Hon. James Kerr, but at the last moment, after consultation with Mr Seddon, he had to abandon the trip because Dr. Cahill reported the Speaker (Sir M. O'Rourke) was so unwell that he would not be able to take the Speaker's chair for at least a week, so he is unfortunately forced to remain in Wellington. Mr Guinness has had to take the Speaker's place for a week already. The Government steamer Hinemoa arrived shortly after eight last evening having accomplished a smart run down from Wellington. The party on board, who have come to pay their last respects to their much loved and highly esteemed colleague, the late Hon. James Kerr, consisted of the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon and Mrs. Seddon, Hon. W. Walker, Hon Bonar, Hon W. T. Jennings, Hon J. Rigg and Lieut-Colonel Feldwick. There were also Mr Thompson, private secretary to the Premier, Mr A. R. Hislop, secretary to the Institute of Marine Engineers, and Mr E. Dyer. A handsome presentation was made on Monday evening last by the Cindrella Company to Miss Easson. The gift was in the form of an elaborate silvermounted baton suitably inscribed. The young lady was quite taken back at the handsome gift bestowed upon her. The baton, which was of first-class work-niam-hip was a token of the Company's appreciation of the valuable services rendered by this talented young con ductoress. Miss Easson feelingly replied, and thanked all for their kind acknowledgements of her efforts. A more suitable present could not have been bestowed upon this young lady for her last last effort " Cinderella " with the baton is still fresh in the minds of the vast audience who witnessed it, and was acknowledged by all to be one of the prettiest productions ever placed on a Greymouth stage. The baton was the work of Messrs Gilbert Bros. The remains of the late Mrs John Dowlirg were followed to their last resting place, Greymouth Cemetery, by a large concourse of mourners this morning. The deceased lady was highly esteemed by all, and was well known, being one of our earliest pioneers. The funeral service was conducted most impressively by the Be v. Father Kimbell. The Medical Journal congratulates Sir J. G. Ward, who is the first Minister of Public Health in the British dominions," on his knighthood.

The branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, established at Palmerston South, bids fair to be a most important organisation. The idea has " caught on," and the farmers have taken the matter up energetically. The Police this morning, we are pleased to say, looked exceptionally smart and neat, and why ? Because they wear only Christopher Smith's collars, drawers and shirts : they all say they are the best and cheapest. Advt. A good story is told of Mr. Justice Mathew. In a case that was before.liiin the counsel for the defendant described the plaintiff as a " money-lendor." The plaintiff objected to the description, saying that he had many other interests besides this. For instance, he said, he was devoted to birds. " Pigeons ?" asked the Judge. The King of Sweden and Norway is noted as an admirable linguist. When the Oriental Congress met at Stockholm he addressed the assembled scholars in the nationalities to which they respectively belonged, and, and spoke with equal fluency in English, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish. A system of insurance against strikes prevails in Austria. Holders of the policies are indemnified if strikes occur in thei) establishments, whether voluntary, forced, or sympathetic. The cost of a policy is 3 or 4 per cent, of the annual pay roll. The indemnity is 50 per cent, of the wages paid for the week preceding the supension of work.

As a result of labor troubles, two business firms in Auckland have recently sent orders to the United States for 6000 pairs of boots.

As showing the demand from outside the district for land in Poverty Bay, it may be stated, says the "' Herald," that of the 21 applicants for a property in the Hangaroa Block disposed of by ballot, only three of the applicants belonged to Poverty Bay, the remainder being selectors from other districts.

In reply to a letter from the New Zealand Institute of Journalists, thanking the Ministry and himself for the kindness, courtesy, and facilities extended to the English Press representatives who accompanied the Royal party, tho Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, Minister of Railways, has written :—" I have to say, oh behalf of myself and colleagues, that we were only too pleased to have the English Press representatives with us, and wo can only hope that anything we might have been permitted to do for them contributed in some degree to the enjoyment of their tour."

With a long titlp, tho Local Bodies and Goldfields Public Works and Loans Bill, which is under the cure of Mr Jackson Palmer, provides that mining privileges shall be subject to any special rate levied for any public work within the same district, and the goldfields' revenue may be pledged as collateral security for a loan. At this stage of the session tho Bill "Hasn't got a hope." Now York immigration laws sometimes bring eccentric results. A girl of eighteen arrived peuuiless, and w&v about to ba sent back, when she remembered that friends in Hungary had spoken of one Deitsch in New fork. Duly sent for. the surprised Deitsch arrived. "This girl goes back unless you marry her," said the inspector. Then tho pretty girl began to plead. And after an hour the hypnotised man, with the stranger on his arm, proceeded lo the registry offioe, accompanied by an officer. Tho Ceremony concluded, the brido promptly fled. The bridegroom sane again, deplores his chivalrous response to tho tearful ploft of his fellowcountrywoman.

Tho Orient liners will in future be kDown as the Orient-Pacific line.

About 1,000 fishing boats engaged around the British coast are named Mary.

The state of Sir J. P. Abqott's health is occasioning his relatives considerable alarm.

Liverpool, with ninety-nine people to tho acre, is the most crowded city in England. Professor Warren, of Sydney, 3ays that city has tho best wooden pavements in tho world.

Tho Christchurch City Council have accepted a tender of JG3.000 for the destructor buildings.

"The Arbitration Court is getting hljovc tlieLcgislature."—Hon. G. M'Lean.

The Hon. G. Jones states that New Zealand cannot compete with America in boot manufacture. "There is not a maker in tin's town who can make a sewn hoot to do him credit and the wearer juHlicc."

The Colonial Treasurer says that in view of the largo amount now paid, it will not be prudent to press for old ago pensions being universal, or for any increase in the scale.

According to tho Waverloy correspondent of tho Wanganui Herald tho Wairoa Mounted Rifles hold the record for South African war and long service medals, over 50 having been obtained by the members of this popular troop. Twenty-five men out of a total of 54 have seen service in South Africa.'

Mr Graham, who has been showing signs of lately kicking over the traces, had the following notice of motion on the Order Paper :—"That there be laid before the House a return showing all sums expended on. each of the Ministerial residences from Ist March, 1900, to date ; (1) for increase of land area, with particulars and prices of same, how acquired, and for what purpose; (2) for extensions, alterations, and repairs of buildings ; (3) for furniture and all'other interior furnishing.

Speaking recently at Leamington the Hon Alfred lyttelton, who has lately been out to the Transvaal as chairman of the Concessions Committee, related some stories of the campaign told him by his brother, Lieut.-Qeneral Lyttelton, who, he said, with the exception of Generals Methuen and Flumer, had seen as much fighting as any one in Africa. The last man his brother had the misfortune to see killed was a poor private whose mother depended upon him. His only property was his kit, which he left her. After his death his comrades purchased his kit, the actual value, of which was 15s, for £75. In another case, where a father and son were fighting, the father—an old colonel—obtained leave to visit his son, a subaltern of the artillery, whom he found in a very stiff fight. The sergeant serving the gun was shot, whereupon the old colonel, without further ado, took off his coat and went on serving the gun under the direction of his own eon, the subaltern. Mr Lyttelton gave an unqualified denial to the charge of cruelty made against the English Army. Mr C. Y. O'Connor, ongineer-in-chief on the West Australian railways, has furnished a report to the Federal House of Eepresentatives regarding the probable coss, revenue, and expenditure in connection with the completion of the TransContinental railway. The report deals with 1100 miles of line from Kalgoorlie to Port Agusta, via Taraoola, and Mr O'Connor estimates the cost at £4OOO per mile, or a total of £4,400.000, which together with interest and charges on loans, will amount to £4,915,000. It is estimated that the line will take five years to complete, and the probable receipts for a start are set down at £240,000 with working exoenses amounting £160,000, leaving a profit of £BO,OOO. Better results are expected, however, later on, and in a few years it is anticipated that the net profit will amount to £IIO,OOO. As compared with, this net profit, there is would be the interest on the estimated cost, which at 3 per cent., will amount to £138,000 a year, thus indicating a loss of £28,000 per annum to the Commonweal'<h for some years.

An ,; invention " which has taken hold and is spreading (writes the London gossip correspondent of the Melbourne Argus) is that of dinner parties at restaurants, instead of at private houses. People who 20 years ago would have thought it quite impossible to dine at a London hotel now regularly give their dinner parties at Prince's the Carlton, the Wulsingham, or the Cecil. Tho real explanation of the change is " tho servant nuisance. " The London servant is becoming more useless, insolent, and sagacious year by year. Housekeeping and entertainiag in one's own house thus mean, for rich or fashionable people, labour, sorrow, and financial ruin. Possibly the great lady of to-day has lost the art of housekeeping or is too idle and frivolous to learn it. Anyhow, the dinner at a publio place, and the flat system, which is hotel life after all, are rapidly superseding the old arrangements. The cadet corps having their hsadquart.;rs at Gisborne have been organised on the nev,' basis, and all tho members have been sworn in. The " Herald understands that the cadets will be armed with the 303 carbines now in possession of the mounted rifles.

A fire occurred at a Christchurch hotel tho other evening in a peculia' way. It app <ars thai a boarder struck a light to search under his bed for his boots and inadvertently set tho bed afire, H-i was not aware of this fact and left tho room. The outbreak was soon got under, but the bed was practically destroyed. The London Gazette announces that the Lords of the Admiralty have recommended that there should be instituted a decoration to be designated the Oonspiou. ous Service Cross. This is to be awarded for meritorious or distinguished services before the enemy performed by warrant or acting warrant officers or by snbordinate officers of the Hoyal Navy. The officer who receives the order will have the right to append the initials C.S.C. to his name. The King has approved of the proposal. A Sydney telegram in the Melbourne Argus says:—"With reference to the opinion by Mr Seddon in the New Zealand House of Representatives that he saw no reason why the steamers of tho P. and O. and Orient lines should not visit New Zealand, inquiries made of tho large shipping companies showed that tho inducements to go to New Zealand were not sufficient. Tho project of tho New Zealand Government to build steamers of 10,000 tons, with a speed of about 18 knots an hour, was regarded in shipping circles as quite chimerical."